Bowl or cup dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispenser such as may be needed in conjunction with machines for vending canned food items (e.g., hot cans of soup) to dispense bowls (e.g., paper or plastic bowls) for holding the items. It holds two stacks of bowls, with each bowl in each stack nested in the next bowl below. A stack support is reciprocable between a first position holding up a first of the two stacks at the bottom and clear of the second stack, and a second position holding up the second stack and clear of the first. A first pair of wedging fingers is movable with the stack support for entry between the rim of the bottom bowl of the first stack and the next bowl above when the stack support moves from its first to its second position to wedge the bottom bowl away from the next bowl above and insure its dropping away from the first stack, which is then held up by these first wedging fingers. A second pair of wedging fingers is movable with the stack support for entry between the rim of the bottom bowl of the second stack and the next bowl above when the stack support moves from its second to its first position to wedge this bottom bowl away from the next bowl above and insure its dropping away from the second stack, which is then held up by these second wedging fingers.

1 States Patent 1191 1111 3,795,344

Walk et al. Mar. 5, 1974 BOWL 0R CU DISPENSER [75] Inventors: Leonard P. Falk, Florissant; Robert [57] ABSTRACT L. Stadler, Overland, both of Mo. A dispenser such as may be needed in conjunction Asslgneei UMC Industnes New York, with machines for vending canned food items (c.g., hot cans of soup) to dispense bowls (e.g., paper or [22] Filed: Man 10 1972 plastic bowls) for holding the items. It holds two stacks of bowls, with each bowl in each stack nested in [2]] p N05 233,485 the next bowl below. A stack support is reciprocable between a first position holding up a first of the two 52 us. c1 221/116, 221/238, 221/272, stacks at the bottom and Clear of the Second Stack, 221/241, 221/221 221/293 221/299 and a second position holding up the second stack and 151 1111.01. B65g 59/06 Clear of the first A first P of Wedgihg fingers is (58] Fiend of Search 221/1 16, 1 18, 234, 236, 238 movable with the stack support for entry between the 221/246, 269, 272, 292 299, 293, 298, 241 rim of the bottom bowl of the first stack and the next 152 22], bowl above when the stack support moves from its first to its second position to wedge the bottom bowl [561 References Cited away from the next bowl above and insure its drop- UNITED STATES PATENTS ping away from the first stack, which is then held up by these first wedging fingers. A second pair of wedg- 2,577,585 12 1951 HongelL 221 299 ing fingers is movable with the stack Support for entry 3:932:32; between the rim of the bottom bowl of the second 2436O75 2/1948 Organ 221/116 stack and the next bowl above when the stack support 2:293:073 8/1942 Osborne et al. 221/118 moves from its Second to its first Position to Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-H. Grant Skagg, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Koenig, Senniger, Powers and Leavitt this bottom bowl away from the next bowl above and insure its dropping away from the second stack, which is then held up by these second wedging fingers.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures anew PATENTEU 74 SHEEI 2 0F 4 'nr sam SHEET h [if 4 PAIENTEBNAR 5:974

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BOWL OR CUP DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing receptacles, and more particularly to a dispenser for paper or plastic bowls or cups such as are used in vending operations.

In conjunction with the vending of certain food products, e.g., hot cans of soup, it is customary to supply paper or plastic bowls to the vendees to hold the product from the can. This invention is especially directed to a dispenser for such bowls for use as a companion to a hot can vendor, the dispenser either being operable free and at will to obtain a bowl, or controlled by the can vendor to dispense a bowl only on vending of a can. While the invention is so directed and is so described hereinafter, it will be understood that its principles are equally applicable to the dispensing of paper or plastic cups as well as bowls, or other receptacles.

The dispenser of this invention 'is especially structured for the dispensing of bowls, cups or other recep tacles of the type which have an outwardly extending annular rim all around their open upper ends, and which are of inverted frustoconical form for nesting and supplied in stacks in which each receptacle is nested in the next receptacle below. Reference may be made to such U.S. Pat. Nos. as l,028,458, 1,963,621, 2,669,498, 2,747,782 and 2,834,511 as illustrative of dispensers in the same general field as this invention for dispensing such receptacles (cups).

SUMMARY. OF THE INVENTION Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of improved apparatus for dispensing receptacles such as above described from a stack in which each receptacle is nested in the next receptacle below by releasing the bottom receptacle of the stack to drop away from the stack; the provision of such apparatus in which the bottom receptacle of the stack is positively separated or dc-nested from the next receptacle above to insure that it will drop away by gravity from the stack; the provision of such apparatus which is readily adapted to handle receptacles of different sizes, i.e., different mouth end diameters and/or different heights; the provision of such apparatus adapted to dispense alternately from two stacks of receptacles, for higher capacity; and the provision of such apparatus which is of economical construction, readily maintained, and reliable in operation.

In general, apparatus of this invention comprises primary means on which the bottom of the bottom receptacle of the stack may bear for supporting the stack, and means mounting this primary stack supporting means for movement between a stack-supporting position in register with the stack and a dispensing position clear of the bottom receptacle of the stack enabling the bottom receptacle to drop away from the stack for being dispensed. Auxiliary means is movable with the primary stack-supporting means offset therefrom and spaced thereabove for entry between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the rim of the next receptacle above when the primary stack-supporting means moves from its stack-supporting position to its dispensing position for holding up the stack while the bottom receptacle drops away, this auxiliary means being retracted from under the rim of said next receptacle when the primary stack-supporting means moves to its stacksupporting position releasing the stack to bear on the primary stack-supporting means.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation ofa dispenser of this inven tion;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the dispenser;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing two stacks of receptacles in the dispenser;

FIG. 4- is a vertical longitudinal section of certain dispensing mechanism of the dispenser for dispensing the lowermost receptacles of the stacks, on a larger scale than FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a moved position of parts; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are vertical transverse sections on lines 7-7 and 88, respectively, of FIG. 4.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is generally indicated at A apparatus of this invention for dispensing receptacles from two stacks SI and S2 of the receptacles, one behind the other. As shown the receptacles are paper or plastic bowls B such as are conventionally supplied for purchasers of cans of food items from vending machines, e.g., hot cans of soup. Each bowl B is of inverted frustoconical form, tapering from a maximum diameter at the top to a minimum diameter at the bottom, for nesting of the bowls one within another, and each has an outwardly projecting annular rim R all around its top. In each of the stacks SI and S2, each bowl (except the bottom bowl of the stack, of course) is nested in the next bowl below.

The dispensing apparatus comprises primary means 1 on which the bottom of the bottom bowl of either stack may bear for supporting the stack, and means indicated generally at 3 mounting the primary stacksupporting means l for movement between a stacksupporting position in register with the stack and a dispensing position clear of the bottom receptacle of the stack enabling the bottom receptacle to drop away from the stack for being dispensed. With regard to stack 81, auxiliary means indicated generally at W1 is provided movable with the primary stack-supporting means 1 offset therefrom and spaced thereabove for entry between the rim R of the bottom receptacle, which is specially designated B1, and the rim R of the next receptacle above, which is specially designated B2, when the primary stack-supporting means I moves from its stack-supporting position to its dispensing position for holding up the stack 31 while the bottom receptacle Bll drops away. The auxiliary means W1 is subsequently retracted from under the rim R of said next receptacle B2 when the primary stacksupporting means ll moves back to its stack-supporting position, releasing the stack Sll to bear on the primary stacksupporting means l, the said receptacle B2 then becoming the bottom receptacle B1 of stack 81. Similar auxiliary means W2 is provided for stack S2; the primary stack-supporting means 1 is common to both stacks.

More particularly, the dispensing apparatus A may be carried on the back of a panel 5 for being mounted between a vendor such as a hot can vendor and an adjacent vendor in a bank of vendors at the front thereof, this panel 5 having a height corresponding to that of the vendors. The apparatus A comprises a carriage generally designated 7 carrying the primary means 1, and the auxiliary means W1 and W2. The mounting means 3, which supports and guides the carriage for reciprocation back and forth toward and away from the front panel 5, comprises an open rectangular frame extending horizontally rearward from the front panel 5, supported at the sides by gusset plates such as indicated at 11 in FIG. 1. This frame means 3 has side members 13 constituted by angle bars arranged with their lower legs 15 extending inwardly toward one another at opposite sides of the frame, a front end member 17 (at panel 5), and a platform 19 at its rear end spanning upward rear end extensions 21 of the vertical legs of the angle bars. At M is generally indicated a dual-stack magazine for holding the two stacks S1 and S2 of receptacles, this magazine being secured in position above the frame 3. lt has a partition 23 which extends up from the top of the frame 3 generally at the center of length of the frame in a vertical plane transverse to the length of the frame, dividing the magazine into a front column and a rear column for the front and rear stacks S1 and S2. A divider 25 (see particularly FIGS. 4,6 and 8) for the lower ends of the stacks is carried by the frame 3 below and in the plane of the partition 23.

An angle bar 27 has one leg 29 arranged horizontally extending across the frame 3 secured at its ends to the bottom of legs 15 of side bars 13 of the frame adjacent the front end of the frame, and a similar angle bar 31 has one leg 33 arranged horizontally extending across the frame secured at its ends to the bottom of legs 15 of side bars 13 adjacent the rearward end of the frame. A slide plate 35 is guided for forward and rearward sliding movement on top of leg 29 by means of screws 37 extending up from leg 29 through elongate slots 39 in the plate 35 extending in front-to-rear (longitudinal) direction relative to the frame 3, with wing nuts 41 threaded on the upper ends of the screws for clamping the plate 35 in longitudinally adjusted position on leg 29. Similarly, a slide plate 45 is guided for forward and rearward sliding movement on top of leg 33 by means ofscrews 47 extending up from leg 33 through elongate slots 49 in the plate 45 extending longitudinally relative to the frame 3, with wing nuts 51 threaded on the upper ends ofthe screws 47 for clamping the plate 45 in longitudinally adjusted position on leg 33. Plate 35 has a flange 53 at its rear end carrying a front stack retainer strip 55, and plate 45 has a flange 57 at its front end carrying a rear stack retainer strip 59. Strip 55 has a forwardly inclined upper end 61 and a slightly rearwardly inclined lower end 63, and strip 59 has a rearwardly inclined upper end 65 and a slightly forwardly inclined lower end 67.

Strips 55 and 59 are centered between the inner edges of the horizontal legs 15 of side members 13 of the frame 3, and are relatively narrow in relation to the spacing of the side members 13. The front strip 55 in conjunction with partition 23 and divider 25 forms a receiver for the lower end of the front stack S1, and the rear strip 59 in conjunction with partition 23 and divider 25 forms a receiver for the lower end of the rear stack S2. The stacks S1 and S2 are housed in magazine M one behind the other. The magazine, supported as indicated at 69, has a lid 71 removable for placing stacks in the magazine.

The carriage 7 comprises an open rectangular frame having horizontally positioned flat side bars each designated 73, a front end member 75, and a rear end member 77 constituted by a channel spanning the side bars 73 and positioned with its open side up. This channel constitutes a track for a roller 79 on the end of a crank arm 81 for reciprocating the carriage. This crank arm has a hub 83 mounted on the lower end of the output shaft 85 of an electric gearmotor 87 mounted on the platform 19, this shaft extending down through a hole 819 in the platform 19. A limit switch indicated at 91 is actuated by pins 93 and 95 on the arm 81.

The side bars 73 of the carriage 7 slide on buttons 97 on the horizontal legs 15 of the side members 13 of the frame 3. Extending down from these side bars 73 are vertical carriage side plates or brackets 99 which carry the primary means 1. The latter is constituted by a horizontal plate 101 constituting a stack-supporting platform having vertical side flanges 103 with vertical extensions 105 at the corners thereof slidable up and down on the inside faces of the carriage side plates 99, with bolts 107 extending from the extensions 105 through elongate vertical slots 109 in the carriage side plates 99 for guiding the platform 101 for vertical adjustment relative to the carriage, and with wing nuts 111 threaded on the bolts 107 for holding the platform 101 in vertically adjusted position for handling receptacles of different heights, as will appear. The platform 101 extends between the carriage side pla;es 99 below the frame of carriage 7, being of generally hourglass shape as viewed in FIG. 5. The carriage is reciprocable through a stroke the length of which is determined by the throw of the roller 79 on crank arm 77, the arrangement being such that with the carriage 7 at the forward end of its stroke, the platform 101 is located in a first stack-supporting position (FIG. 4) in the space between the planes of partition 23 and the front strip 55 in register with the first stack S1 for supporting the latter, and, with the carriage at the rearward end of its stroke, the platform 101 is located in a second stacksupporting position (FIG. 6) in the space between the planes of partition 23 and the rear strip 59 in register with the second stack S2 for supporting the latter.

The first auxiliary means W1 comprises a pair of tingers each designated 113 at opposite sides of the carriage 7 located at the level of the carriage frame above the platform 101 and offset forward from the latter (toward the right in FIGS. 4-6) positioned to enter between the rim R of the bottom receptacle B1 of the front stack S1 and the rim of the next receptacle above in the front stack and to wedge these two receptacles apart to separate the bottom receptacle B1 from the next receptacle 132 above when the carriage is moved from the forward to the rearward end of its stroke. Each of these fingers, which may be molded of plastic, is of tapered form, having a relatively wide trailing end portion 115 and a relatively slender tapering leading end portion 117 with a straight upper edge 119 throughout its length, this edge being inclined downward from front to rear. Each finger has a horizontal flange 121 extending laterally outwardly therefrom bearing on the respective side bar 73 of the carriage.

This flange has a pair of elongate diagonal slots 123 (see FIG. 5) angled in rearward direction from the outside in, with bolts 125 extending up from the side bars 73 through these slots and wing nuts 127 threaded on the upper ends of the bolts. Each finger 113 is adjustable in and out and longitudinally relative to its respective side bar 73 via the angled slots 123 and bolts 125 and is adapted to be held in adjusted position by tightening the wing nuts 127. Extending forward from the leading end of each finger 113 and offset laterally outwardly therefrom is a vertical flange 129 constituting a receptacle side guide.

The second auxiliary means W2 is' structured the same as the first auxiliary means W1, but oppositely arranged toward the rearward end of the carriage 7 with the fingers 1 13 of the means W2 positioned to enter between the rim R of the bottom receptacle B1 of the rear stack S2 and the rim of the next receptacle B2 above in the rear stack S2 and to wedge these two receptacles apart to separate the bottom receptacle from the next receptacle above when the carriage is moved from the rearward to the forward end of its stroke. The parts of means W2 are assigned the same reference numerals as the corresponding parts of means W1.

The apparatus is set for dispensing receptacles (e.g., bowls) B of the desired size by adjusting platform 101 vertically relative to the ends 117 of the fingers via bolts 107 and slots 109 to space the platform from the tips of the fingers a distance slightly greater than the receptacle height (see FIGS. 4 and 6). Also, fingers 113 of both means W1 and W2 are adjusted laterally inwardly or outwardly (as needed) via slots 123 and bolts 125 to space the inside faces of the two fingers 113 of each means W1 and W2 a distance appropriate to the receptacle diameter in the horizontal plane of the receptacle just below its rim R. When handling paper and thin plastic receptacles, which are flexible, it is preferred that this distance be somewhat less than the receptacle diameter in said plane, so that the fingers may squeeze in the sides of the receptacles. When handling rigid receptacles the distance would be slightly greater than the stated receptacle diameter, and less than the outside diameter of the rim. This lateral adjustment spaces the inside faces of the receptacle side guides 129 a distance slightly greater than the outside diameter of the rim (see FIG. 5). It also effects a longitudinal and justment of the fingers, due to the slots 123 being angled, to position the tips of the fingers 113 closely adjacent the opposite sides of the receptacles so that each set of fingers comes under the rim of the respective receptacle B2 upon short travel of the carriage from its forward or its rearward position. In this regard, it will be observed from FIG. 5 that on adjusting the fingers 113 of means W1 (the forward fingers) laterally outward to handle larger receptacles, the tips of the fingers (at 117) are automatically adjusted longitudinally forward to become properly located with respect to the larger receptacles.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the carriage 7 in its forward position (i.e., at the right end of its stroke) with platform 101 supporting stack S1 and the fingers 113 of means W2 supporting stack S2. The carriage is in this forward or first position by reason of crank arm 31 extending forward from shaft 85. The bottom of the bottom receptacle B1 of stack S1 bears on platform 10.1. The rim R of the receptacle at the lower end of the stack S2 bears on the inclined upper edge 119 of the fingers 113 of means W2, this receptacle and a number of receptacles above it thereby occupying a slightly inclined position (see FIG. 4). At 131 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is indicated a push button for actuating a switch (not shown) to energize the gearmotor 87. This may be under control of an adjacent hot can vendor, i.e., the motor circuit is not completed unless coin has been deposited in the hot can vendor for vending of a can. On energization of gearmotor 87, arm 81 is rotated through half a revolution, as determined by pin actuating switch 91 to deenergize the motor, to slide the carriage 7 rearward to its rearward position (i.e., at the left end of its stroke as viewed in FIG. 6). As the carriage slides rearward to its said rearward or second position, platform 101 travels out from under the bottom receptacle B1 of stack S1 and moves into a position clear of this receptacle for dispensing the latter and in register with the second stack S2 for supporting the latter. Fingers 113 of means W1 wedge in between rim R of the bottom receptacle B1 of stack S1 and the rim of the next receptacle B2 above so as to (a) wedge between these rims positively to separate the receptacle Bl from receptacle B2 so that B1 drops down and out (see FIG. 6) to a delivery pan 133 behind an access opening 135 in panel 5, and (b) hold up stack S1 while the carriage 7 is in its stated rearward (second) position.

Also, as thecarriage 7 slides rearward, fingers 113 of means W2 are retracted rearward from under the rim of the lower receptacle of the rear stack S2, and this stack then drops down and bears on the platform 101 (which moves into registry with the stack S2 as shown in FIG. 6). The arrangement is such that platform 101 comes under stack S2 before the latter is released to drop down off fingers 113 of means W2.

On the next energization of motor 87 by actuation of button 131, arm 81 is rotated through another half rev olution, as determined by pin 93 actuating switch 91 to deenergize the motor, to slide the carriage 7 back forward to its said forward (FIG. 4) position. As the carriage slides forward, platform 101 travels forward out from under the bottom receptacle B1 of the rear stack S2 and moves back into its position for supporting stack S1. Fingers 113 of means W2 wedge in between rims R of the bottom receptacle B1 and next receptacle B2 above of stack S2 so as to (a) wedge between these rims positively to separate these receptacles so that B1 of S2 drops down and out (see FIG. 4) to the pan 133, and (b) hold up stack S2 while the carriage is in its stated forward (first) position.

Thus, on successive rearward and forward strokes of the carriage 7, a receptacle is dispensed from the front and rear stacks S1 and S2, respectively. The dispensing is positive and reliable, with any tendency for jamming minimized by reason of the wedging action of the fingers pushing the bottom receptacle down away from the next receptacle above and thereby de-nesting it so that it is free to drop.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes couldbe made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing receptacles, each having a rim, from a stack of the receptacles in which each receptacle is nested in the next receptacle below, comprising a carriage, primary means carried by the carriage on which the bottom of the bottom receptacle of the stack may bear for supporting the stack, means mounting said carriage and said primary stacksupporting means for movement of the primary stacksupporting means between a stack-supporting position in register with the stack and a dispensing position clear of the bottom receptacle of the stack enabling the bottom receptacle to drop away from the stack for being dispensed, a pair of fingers movable with said carriage and primary stack-supporting means offset from and spaced above said primary stack-supporting means for entry between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the rim of the next receptacle above at opposite sides of the latter when the primary stack-supporting means moves from its stack-supporting position to its dispensing position for holding up the stack while the bottom receptacle drops away, said fingers being retracted from under the rim of said next receptacle when said primary stack-supporting means moves to its said stacksupporting position releasing the stack to bear on said primary stack-supporting means, said fingers being wedge-shaped to wedge between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the next receptacle above to separate the bottom receptacle from the said next receptacle, means mounting said primary stack-supporting means on the carriage for vertical adjustment relative thereto and relative to said fingers for handling receptacles of different height, and means mounting said fingers on the carriage for adjustment laterally toward and away from each other and also longitudinally relative to the carriage for handling receptacles of different top diameter.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carriage mounting means supports and guides the carriage for reciprocation back and forth between a first position wherein the primary stack-supporting means is in its stack-supporting position and a second position wherein the primary stack-supporting means is in its dispensing position, said carriage being structured to permit the bottom receptacle to drop down away from the stack when the carriage moves to its said second position, and having means for reciprocating the carriage, and wherein said carriage comprises a pair of side members spaced apart a distance greater than the top diameter of the largest receptacle to be handled, said fingers being mounted for adjustment on said side members toward and away from one another laterally of the carriage and also longitudinally of the carriage for handling receptacles of different top diameter, said side members having brackets extending downwardly therefrom carrying said primary stack-supporting means extending laterally with respect to the carriage between said brackets, and said apparatus having means for vertical adjustment of said primary stacksupporting means with respect to said brackets.

3. Apparatus for dispensing receptacles, each having a rim, from two adjacent stacks of the receptacles, each receptacle in each of the two stacks being nested in the next receptacle below, comprising primary means on which the bottom of the bottom receptacle of either stack may bear for supporting the stack, means mounting said primary stack-supporting means for movement between a first stack-supporting position in register with a first of the two stacks and clear of the second of the two stacks and a second stack-supporting position in register with the second stack and clear of the first stack, a first auxiliary means movable with said primary stack-supporting means offset therefrom and spaced thereabove and positioned relative thereto for entry between the rim of the bottom receptacle of the first stack and the rim of the next receptacle above when the primary stack-supporting means moves from its said first to its said second stack-supporting position for holding up the first stack while the bottom receptacle thereof drops away, and a second auxiliary means movable with said primary stack-supporting means oppositely offset therefrom and spaced thereabove and positioned relative thereto for entry between the rim of the bottom receptacle of the second stack and the rim of the next receptacle above when the primary stack-supporting means moves from its said second to its said first stacksupporting position for holding up the second stack while the bottom receptacle thereof drops away, each auxiliary means comprising a pair of fingers positioned to enter between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the rim of the next receptacle above of the respective stack at opposite sides of the latter, the fingers of each auxiliary means being wedge-shaped and the two pairs of wedge-shaped fingers being oppositely directed to wedge between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the rim of the next receptacle above of the respective stack to separate the bottom receptacle from the said next receptacle, said apparatus having a carriage carrying said primary stack-supporting means and said fingers of each auxiliary means, said mounting means supporting and guiding said carriage for movement to carry said primary means between its said first and second stack-supporting positions, said primary stacksupporting means being carried by the carriage for vertical adjustment relative thereto and relative to the said fingers of the first and second auxiliary means for handling receptacles of different height, the said fingers of .each auxiliary means being carried by the carriage for adjustment toward and away from each other relative to the carriage for handling receptacles of different diameter.

4. Apparatus for dispensing receptacles, each having a rim, from two adjacent stacks of the receptacles, each receptacle in each of the two stacks being nested in the next receptacle below, comprising primary means on which the bottom of the bottom receptacle of either stack may bear for supporting the stack, means mounting said primary stack-supporting means for movement between a first stack-supporting position in register with a first of the two stacks and clear of the second of the two strokes and a second stack-supporting position in register with the second stack and clear of the first stack, a first auxiliary means movable with said primary stack-supporting means offset therefrom and spaced thereabove and positioned relative thereto for entry between the rim of the bottom receptacle of the first stack and the rim of the next receptacle above when the primary stack-supporting means moves from its said first to its said second stack-supporting position for holding up the first stack while the bottom receptacle thereof drops away, and a second auxiliary means movable with said primary stack-supporting means oppositely offset therefrom and spaced thereabove and positioned relative thereto for entry between the rim ofthe bottom receptacle of the second stack and the rim of the next receptacle above when the primary stack-supporting means moves from its said second to its said first stacksupporting position for holding up the second stack while the bottom receptacle thereof drops away, each auxiliary means comprising a pair of fingers positioned to enter between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the rim of the next receptacle above of the respective stack at opposite sides of the latter, the fingers of each auxiliary means being wedge-shaped and the two pairs of wedge-shaped fingers being oppositely directed to wedge between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the rim of the next receptacle above of the respective stack to separate the bottom receptacle from the said next receptacle, said apparatus having a carriage carrying said primary stack-supporting means and said fingers of 'each auxiliary means, said mounting means supporting and guiding said carriage for movement to carry said primary means between its said first and second stack-supporting positions, said mounting means supporting and guiding the carriage for reciprocation back and forth between a first position wherein the primary stack-supporting means is in its first stacksupporting position and a second position wherein the primary stack-supporting means is in its second stacksupporting position, said carriage being structured to permit the bottom receptacle of either stack to drop down away from that stack when the carriage moves to its position for supporting the other stack, means for reciprocating the carriage, said carriage comprising a pair of side members spaced apart a distance greater than the top diameter of the largest receptacle to be handled, means mounting said fingers for adjustment on said side members toward and away from one another laterally of the carriage and also longitudinally of the carriage for handling receptacles of different top diameter, said side members having brackets extending downwardly therefrom carrying said primary stacksupporting means extending laterally with respect to the carriage between said brackets, and means for vertical adjustment of said primary stack-supporting means with respect to said brackets. 

1. Apparatus for dispensing receptacles, each having a rim, from a stack of the receptacles in which each receptacle is nested in the next receptacle below, comprising a carriage, primary means carried by the carriage on which the bottom of the bottom receptacle of the stack may bear for supporting the stack, means mounting said carriage and said primary stack-supporting means for movement of the primary stack-supporting means between a stack-supporting position in register with the stack and a dispensing position clear of the bottom receptacle of the stack enabling the bottom receptacle to drop away from the stack for being dispensed, a pair of fingers movable with said carriage and primary stack-supporting means offset from and spaced above said primary stack-supporting means for entry between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the rim of the next receptacle above at opposite sides of the latter when the primary stack-supporting means moves from its stack-supporting position to its dispensing position for holding up the stack while the bottom receptacle drops away, said fingers being retracted from under the rim of said next receptacle when said primary stack-supporting means movEs to its said stack-supporting position releasing the stack to bear on said primary stack-supporting means, said fingers being wedge-shaped to wedge between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the next receptacle above to separate the bottom receptacle from the said next receptacle, means mounting said primary stack-supporting means on the carriage for vertical adjustment relative thereto and relative to said fingers for handling receptacles of different height, and means mounting said fingers on the carriage for adjustment laterally toward and away from each other and also longitudinally relative to the carriage for handling receptacles of different top diameter.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carriage mounting means supports and guides the carriage for reciprocation back and forth between a first position wherein the primary stack-supporting means is in its stack-supporting position and a second position wherein the primary stack-supporting means is in its dispensing position, said carriage being structured to permit the bottom receptacle to drop down away from the stack when the carriage moves to its said second position, and having means for reciprocating the carriage, and wherein said carriage comprises a pair of side members spaced apart a distance greater than the top diameter of the largest receptacle to be handled, said fingers being mounted for adjustment on said side members toward and away from one another laterally of the carriage and also longitudinally of the carriage for handling receptacles of different top diameter, said side members having brackets extending downwardly therefrom carrying said primary stack-supporting means extending laterally with respect to the carriage between said brackets, and said apparatus having means for vertical adjustment of said primary stack-supporting means with respect to said brackets.
 3. Apparatus for dispensing receptacles, each having a rim, from two adjacent stacks of the receptacles, each receptacle in each of the two stacks being nested in the next receptacle below, comprising primary means on which the bottom of the bottom receptacle of either stack may bear for supporting the stack, means mounting said primary stack-supporting means for movement between a first stack-supporting position in register with a first of the two stacks and clear of the second of the two stacks and a second stack-supporting position in register with the second stack and clear of the first stack, a first auxiliary means movable with said primary stack-supporting means offset therefrom and spaced thereabove and positioned relative thereto for entry between the rim of the bottom receptacle of the first stack and the rim of the next receptacle above when the primary stack-supporting means moves from its said first to its said second stack-supporting position for holding up the first stack while the bottom receptacle thereof drops away, and a second auxiliary means movable with said primary stack-supporting means oppositely offset therefrom and spaced thereabove and positioned relative thereto for entry between the rim of the bottom receptacle of the second stack and the rim of the next receptacle above when the primary stack-supporting means moves from its said second to its said first stack-supporting position for holding up the second stack while the bottom receptacle thereof drops away, each auxiliary means comprising a pair of fingers positioned to enter between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the rim of the next receptacle above of the respective stack at opposite sides of the latter, the fingers of each auxiliary means being wedge-shaped and the two pairs of wedge-shaped fingers being oppositely directed to wedge between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the rim of the next receptacle above of the respective stack to separate the bottom receptacle from the said next receptacle, said apparatus having a carriage carrying said primary stack-supporting means and said fingers of each auxiliary means, said mounTing means supporting and guiding said carriage for movement to carry said primary means between its said first and second stack-supporting positions, said primary stack-supporting means being carried by the carriage for vertical adjustment relative thereto and relative to the said fingers of the first and second auxiliary means for handling receptacles of different height, the said fingers of each auxiliary means being carried by the carriage for adjustment toward and away from each other relative to the carriage for handling receptacles of different diameter.
 4. Apparatus for dispensing receptacles, each having a rim, from two adjacent stacks of the receptacles, each receptacle in each of the two stacks being nested in the next receptacle below, comprising primary means on which the bottom of the bottom receptacle of either stack may bear for supporting the stack, means mounting said primary stack-supporting means for movement between a first stack-supporting position in register with a first of the two stacks and clear of the second of the two strokes and a second stack-supporting position in register with the second stack and clear of the first stack, a first auxiliary means movable with said primary stack-supporting means offset therefrom and spaced thereabove and positioned relative thereto for entry between the rim of the bottom receptacle of the first stack and the rim of the next receptacle above when the primary stack-supporting means moves from its said first to its said second stack-supporting position for holding up the first stack while the bottom receptacle thereof drops away, and a second auxiliary means movable with said primary stack-supporting means oppositely offset therefrom and spaced thereabove and positioned relative thereto for entry between the rim of the bottom receptacle of the second stack and the rim of the next receptacle above when the primary stack-supporting means moves from its said second to its said first stack-supporting position for holding up the second stack while the bottom receptacle thereof drops away, each auxiliary means comprising a pair of fingers positioned to enter between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the rim of the next receptacle above of the respective stack at opposite sides of the latter, the fingers of each auxiliary means being wedge-shaped and the two pairs of wedge-shaped fingers being oppositely directed to wedge between the rim of the bottom receptacle and the rim of the next receptacle above of the respective stack to separate the bottom receptacle from the said next receptacle, said apparatus having a carriage carrying said primary stack-supporting means and said fingers of each auxiliary means, said mounting means supporting and guiding said carriage for movement to carry said primary means between its said first and second stack-supporting positions, said mounting means supporting and guiding the carriage for reciprocation back and forth between a first position wherein the primary stack-supporting means is in its first stack-supporting position and a second position wherein the primary stack-supporting means is in its second stack-supporting position, said carriage being structured to permit the bottom receptacle of either stack to drop down away from that stack when the carriage moves to its position for supporting the other stack, means for reciprocating the carriage, said carriage comprising a pair of side members spaced apart a distance greater than the top diameter of the largest receptacle to be handled, means mounting said fingers for adjustment on said side members toward and away from one another laterally of the carriage and also longitudinally of the carriage for handling receptacles of different top diameter, said side members having brackets extending downwardly therefrom carrying said primary stack-supporting means extending laterally with respect to the carriage between said brackets, and means for vertical adjustment of said primary stack-supporting means with respect to said bracketS. 